High-explosive fragmentation projectile. Everything about landmines in World of Tanks

People who follow the news feed quite often hear words such as land mine, high-explosive mine or high-explosive fragmentation mine in the description of emergency events and incidents. Today, in the era of the heyday of the terrorist threat, not only adults, but also children know what a landmine is. A high-explosive mine has become a favorite weapon of terrorists, with which they can keep the population of cities in fear, inflicting painful blows on social infrastructure. Although literally some 20 years ago, such terminology was the lot of the military and in most cases we only heard about landmines in reports from military conflict zones.

Despite the fact that combat tactics have undergone significant changes, landmines continue to be used as a means of deterring enemy advances. Artillery of all calibers massively use fragmentation ammunition. Armor-piercing high-explosive ammunition continues to be used to equip tank units and anti-tank forces.

The ability to inflict enormous destruction and cause significant casualties in a matter of seconds makes the landmine the main fire weapon.

What is the difference between a high-explosive charge and a high-explosive projectile?

It should be said right away that artillery shell, mine or aerial bomb- this is a device of ammunition, which may differ in the principle of impact, purpose and scope of application. However, all of the ammunition listed is based on one single principle - high-explosive action, i.e. striking effect. Both mines and shells can be high explosive. Any ammunition that contains an explosive is high explosive. This can be either a concrete-piercing or high-explosive fragmentation projectile or anti-tank ammunition with a combined effect.

High explosive charge is an engineering term describing a certain amount of explosive used for detonation. The blast wave in this case is the main damaging effect. The secondary damaging factors in a landmine explosion are the explosion products. Detonation of explosives can be of direct or indirect action. Typically, an electrical discharge is used to activate a high explosive charge, chemical reaction, fire method or mechanical impact. An electric spark and a fire cord are the main means of detonating a stationary high-explosive charge, while the impact mechanism and incendiary tube become detonators of directional ammunition. An explosive enclosed in a casing or container is already certain type ammunition ready for use. The high-explosive projectile and aerial bomb are the main ammunition of artillery systems and aviation, the mine is the main fire engineering and technical means.

High explosive projectile. Operating principle

The main area of application of high-explosive ammunition is the destruction of buildings and structures, shelters and shelters for manpower. In field and combat conditions, these are, as a rule, trenches and dugouts, brick and wooden structures and buildings. High-explosive artillery shells are most often used as a fire engineering tool used artillery systems large caliber. When a projectile hits a target, as a result of the detonation of explosives, a high-explosive effect on objects occurs. The power of the ammunition to impact objects is determined by the high explosiveness of the charge. High explosiveness characterizes the ability of an explosive to create a certain amount of explosion products in a short period of time that can have a destructive effect.

The more powerful the charge, the greater the pressure created on the surrounding airspace, and the stronger the shock wave. Speaking in simple language, the high-explosive effect when detonating a charge manifests itself in splitting and throwing environment at the point of explosion. Distinctive feature high-explosive shells is the specificity of their destructive effect. Under normal conditions, at open space, the shock wave created during the detonation of a high-explosive charge diverges evenly over the entire radius of action, losing the intensity of its impact on objects as the distance increases. If a charge is detonated in a confined space or on limited area, the damaging effect of the landmine increases. Compared to other types of ammunition, high-explosive shells are significantly inferior in terms of damaging power.

It should be taken into account that the high explosiveness of the charge may be different. The measure of high explosiveness of each ammunition depends on the potential of the explosive (HE) and the specific energy released by it at the moment of explosion. The performance of explosives used to fill ammunition may vary. The force and power of the explosion are influenced by the specific volume and composition of gaseous products resulting from the detonation of explosives. It is quite difficult to accurately determine the actual performance of a particular explosive, therefore the high explosiveness of a certain explosive charge is usually expressed in relative units. As a rule, the high-explosive effect of an explosive is compared with the result of the action of a certain amount of TNT. The specific volume of products resulting from the explosion is measured in TNT equivalent.

Based on these data, we can draw a conclusion. The power of a high explosive projectile is determined by the amount and type of explosive. An increase in the number of explosives leads to an increase in the caliber of ammunition. More powerful explosives make it possible to achieve the required destructive effect without increasing the caliber of the projectile. For example, for armor-piercing high-explosive anti-tank shells, the main thing is not the caliber, but a certain damaging effect. Due to their high penetrating power, such projectiles can penetrate deep into the armor, after which the high-explosive charge leads to its further destruction.

Unlike a high explosive mine or bomb, a projectile is a percussion munition. those. The high-explosive action is preceded by a shock action caused by the kinetic energy of the projectile's flight. The flight of the projectile can have a canopy or flat flight path. Howitzers and mortars are most often used to defeat enemy personnel and destroy defensive structures. Tank guns and anti-tank artillery To combat armored vehicles, it uses mainly armor-piercing high-explosive shells. The main task that needs to be solved in this case is to disable armored vehicles by overcoming the armored protection.

Various types and types of high explosive shells

Shells, mines, aerial bombs, and grenades are fire weapons and can have varying degrees of high-explosive action, primary or auxiliary. This determines the purpose of the ammunition, for what purpose this or that projectile is intended. In order to achieve a great destructive and damaging effect, projectiles are used in which high-explosive action is the main one. High-explosive shells and aerial bombs are used to destroy long-term structures and field shelters. To combat heavy armored vehicles, directional landmines and armor-piercing high-explosive shells are used. This type of ammunition is distinguished by the enormous kinetic energy possessed by the projectile fired from the barrel. The penetration ability of armor-piercing projectiles is achieved due to high speed flight of the projectile and the core made of the strongest metal alloy. Once in the armor plate, the projectile destroys the surface layer, after which a high-explosive charge detonates, destroying the armor plate.

In those ammunition where the main purpose of their use is to achieve a certain result, the high-explosive effect is auxiliary. Here the main emphasis is on other damaging factors. High-explosive fragmentation shells, like hand grenades, are used to destroy manpower. The high-explosive action in this case serves as an auxiliary factor, due to which the projectile body is destroyed into small fragments. When detonated, projectile fragments or fragments specially included in the ammunition receive enormous kinetic energy, becoming the main damaging factor.

High-explosive fragmentation shells are the main means of artillery fire. This type of projectile is the most widespread. The main reason is the versatility of this type of ammunition. With the help of mini-shells and shells of this type, you can simultaneously achieve not only the destruction of defensive structures and infrastructure, but also defeat enemy personnel. Unlike high-explosive ammunition, high-explosive fragmentation bombs and shells have a thick shell and have a smaller explosive charge. In this case, the relative mass of the projectile itself is much higher.

Today, high-explosive shells have been practically replaced by high-explosive fragmentation ammunition. Modern types shells possessed by artillery systems allow them to solve a full range of tasks on the battlefield. Volumetric explosion ammunition is used to destroy large defensive structures and long-term fortifications. As for armor-piercing high-explosive ammunition, they continue to be used in tank units as the main means of destroying enemy armored vehicles. The advent of cumulative ammunition has significantly increased the tactical capabilities of anti-tank defense weapons. Land mines will remain for a long time perhaps the main means of armed struggle on the battlefield.

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The high-explosive effect of shells is to displace and destroy defensive structures, buildings and military equipment beyond

explosion energy account.

To obtain the greatest high-explosive effect, by the time of the explosion the projectile must penetrate to a certain optimal depth into the barrier. Therefore, the high-explosive action is preceded by the impact action of the projectile.

High-explosive action is the main one for high-explosive, concrete-piercing and high-explosive fragmentation shells when the fuse is set to high-explosive action. For cumulative, fragmentation and chamber armor-piercing shells it will be additional.

The damaging factors of the high-explosive action of a projectile are the shock wave and explosion products, which spread in the environment in all directions from the point of explosion.

When highly compressed and heated explosion products expand, they rush towards the direction of least resistance of the medium - towards the surface of the obstacle. As a result, part of the medium (soil) is thrown to the surface and a cone-shaped funnel is formed (Fig. 6.9), the dimensions of which are characterized by depth and radius. If the radius of the funnel is equal to the depth, then such a funnel is called normal; if the radius is greater than the depth, the funnel is called shallow, otherwise - deep.

Around the point of projectile rupture in the ground, three zones are distinguished: the compression sphere, the destruction sphere, and the concussion sphere. In a compression sphere with a radius of several projectile calibers, the soil shifts and becomes compacted. In the sphere of destruction, which has a radius, a strong shock wave propagates, which disrupts the bonds between soil particles, leading to the formation of cracks in the ground and the destruction of defensive structures. In the shaking sphere, the shock wave will be weakened and will only cause oscillatory movement of soil particles without destroying durable structures.

The characteristics of a high-explosive action are taken to be the radius of destruction and the volume of ejected soil or the volume of the crater.

kiTo determine the radius of destruction (in m) there is an empirical formula

where is a coefficient depending on the properties of the medium; is the mass of the bursting charge, kg.

Prive coefficient values

data in table 6.2, Comparing coefficients we can conclude that the properties of the medium have a much smaller effect on the high-explosive action of the projectile than on the fragmentation effect.

Formula (6.17) shows that the radius of destruction increases with increasing weight of the explosive charge and, therefore, for projectiles of the same type with increasing caliber. Further, the fracture radius decreases with increasing strength of the medium.

For 122-mm and 152-mm high-explosive fragmentation shells, the radius of destruction in medium-strength soil is 1.65 and 2.03 m, respectively.

The volume of the crater depends on the mass of the explosive charge and the depth of the projectile at the moment of explosion. On average, we can assume that for every kilogram of explosive there is 1.2-1.5 m 3 of funnel volume.

As the depth of the projectile increases, the funnel becomes deep and its volume decreases. If the depression is large enough, a camouflage will occur, that is, an underground explosion without the formation of a crater.

The explosion of the projectile at the optimal depth is ensured by a fuse, the duration of which must be quite definite.

The high-explosive effect of concrete-piercing projectiles differs from the high-explosive action of high-explosive and high-explosive fragmentation projectiles in that by the time of the explosion the projectile only partially penetrates the barrier (Fig. 6.10). In this case, the characteristic of a high-explosive action is taken to be a value (in m) equal to the increment in the depth of the crater formed during the impact action, and determined using the empirical formula

where C is the distance from the center of gravity of the explosive charge to the bottom of the crater at the moment of explosion, m.

Formula (6.18) is similar in structure to formula (6.17). Magnitude C takes into account the fact that during an open explosion, the high-explosive effect is weakened, and to a greater extent, the further the center of gravity of the explosive charge is from the surface being destroyed. The coefficient for concrete is 0.20-0.15, and for reinforced concrete - 0.12, i.e. it will be less than for high-explosive and high-explosive fragmentation shells.

The total effect of the concrete-piercing projectile is characterized by the total depth of the funnel

in which the value is determined by the Berezan formula. I

High explosive projectile

Land mine(French) fougasse) - an explosive charge placed in the ground or under water at a shallow depth, or delivered in various ways to the point of application, exploding suddenly to cause damage to the enemy or delay his advance. When a landmine is detonated, the target is hit by a shock wave and explosion products.

The explosion is produced by electric, fire or mechanically. When using the fire method, it is necessary to have detonator caps, a fire cord and incendiary tubes.

Application

High-explosive shells are mainly intended for firing at non-concrete defensive structures: trenches, wood-earth (DZOT) and wood-stone firing points, observation posts, etc. In addition, high-explosive shells of large calibers can be used in conjunction with concrete-piercing shells for firing at concrete defensive structures (DOT) mainly for removing the earthen embankment from the latter. Firing high-explosive shells on ricochets can be successfully used to make passages in minefields.

In the absence of fragmentation and high-explosive fragmentation shells, high-explosive shells can be used for firing at open live targets, and in the absence of armor-piercing shells, for firing at tanks. In these cases, the effect of high-explosive shells will be significantly inferior to the effect of the shells they replace.

Damaging effect

High explosive shells are active destructive force gases of the explosive charge and partly by the force of impact on the barrier. In accordance with this, the power of a high-explosive projectile is determined by the weight and quality of the explosive contained in its shell, which determines the main requirement for such projectiles. Increasing the power of high-explosive projectiles within the same caliber is possible by increasing the capacity of the chamber for the explosive charge and using a more powerful explosive.

Design

High-explosive projectiles have the thinnest shells, a high filling factor, a high relative weight of the explosive charge and a low relative weight of the projectile.

According to their design, high-explosive shells of medium-caliber ground artillery are solid-body, with a screw head or screw bottom and a point for the head fuse, and shells large calibers- with a solid head, a screwed bottom and a point for a bottom fuse, or with a screw head and a screwed bottom and a point for a head fuse. Large-caliber shells, in addition, can have two points: under the head and bottom fuses; The use of two fuses ensures trouble-free operation and complete explosion of the projectile.

Small-caliber high-explosive shells in aviation artillery were first used by the Germans in 20- and 30-mm aircraft cannons during the Second World War. The body of the 20-mm projectile is thin-walled, stamped, with grooves pressed into it for the leading belt and blackening of the cartridge case. To increase strength when fired, the bottom of the body is made of a hemispherical shape. There are no centering bulges on the body, and the centering of the projectile in the barrel bore is carried out by the centering bulge on the fuse and the leading belt. The fuse is connected to the projectile using an adapter sleeve fixed in the body.

The required strength of such projectiles when fired is achieved through the use of a metal body with high mechanical properties and its heat treatment.

The appearance of high-explosive shells in small-caliber aviation artillery is explained by the increased damaging effect of these shells compared to fragmentation shells due to the low sensitivity of modern aircraft to damage from fragments. Therefore, it should be considered appropriate to fully increase the high explosiveness of small-caliber fragmentation shells of anti-aircraft and aviation artillery. The use of high-explosive shells in ground artillery is advisable only in guns with a caliber of 120 mm and above, since the insignificant weight of the explosive charge of shells of a smaller caliber does not ensure the destruction of even the lightest field shelters.

Landmines at present

Currently, in medium-caliber artillery, high-explosive shells are almost completely replaced by high-explosive fragmentation shells, which greatly simplify the combat supply of artillery.

Old high-explosive shells were preserved only in service, while the production of medium-caliber high-explosive shells was discontinued in almost all countries.

For equipping high-explosive shells of ground artillery in peacetime almost exclusively TNT is used and less often melinite, and in wartime the use of surrogate explosives is inevitable.

High-explosive shells of German aviation artillery were filled mainly with PETN and less often with TNT.

High explosive fuses

To activate high-explosive ground artillery shells at the target, head and bottom fuses with one to three settings are used: instantaneous (fragmentation), inertial (high-explosive) and delayed action. The use of fuses with settings for inertial and delayed action is aimed at ensuring the necessary deepening of the projectile into the barrier until it explodes to obtain the required high-explosive effect.

In small-caliber high-explosive projectiles of aviation artillery, only instantaneous fuses can be used.

Fuse

For a long time, the only fuse used was an impact fuse, which was triggered when the projectile hit the target.

Impact fuses are the simplest and most reliable. Most fuses of this type can be set to contact or delayed mode. In the first case, the explosion occurs upon first contact with an obstacle and is intended to destroy objects around the obstacle. In the second case, the projectile is buried into the target and only there detonation occurs - this makes it possible to effectively destroy fortifications and buildings.

In case of a direct hit in vulnerable areas (turret hatches, engine compartment radiator, ejection screens of the aft ammunition rack, etc.), the OFS can destroy modern tank out of order. Also, the shock wave and fragments, with a high degree of probability, disable surveillance and communication devices, weapons placed outside the armor volume, and other systems installed in large quantities on modern armored vehicles.

A German monk who discovered the propellant properties of gunpowder, he never imagined that he would become the progenitor of a new god - the god of war.

The Birth of Artillery

The monk’s discovery was very quickly used in military affairs, and soon two directions for the development of weapons appeared, which used the propellant properties of gunpowder. The first of these was the creation of a lightweight manual small arms, the second is the production of guns. The emergence of manual firearms did not lead to the creation of a new type of army. They simply armed existing ones, replacing bows and light throwing spears - darts - in the infantry and cavalry. But the appearance of cannons created new troops, which in Rus' were called “firearms,” and which the Italian weapons theorist Niccolo Tartaglia proposed to call artillery, which translated means “the art of shooting.” Some researchers believe that this appeared much earlier than the discovery of the German monk, with the invention of the first throwing machines - ballistas. Be that as it may, artillery became the god of war precisely with the creation of firearms.

Development of the God of War

Over time, military affairs did not stand still, and artillery guns not only improved, but also new types appeared: howitzers, mortars, jet systems volley fire and others. In the twentieth century, artillery truly dominated the battlefields. And along with the development of guns, artillery ammunition for them also developed.

Types of projectiles

The first artillery shell fired at the enemy was nothing more than an ordinary stone loaded into a ballista. With the advent of cannons, special stone and then metal cannonballs began to be used. They caused damage to the enemy due to kinetic energy received during the shot. But back in the twelfth century AD, China used a high-explosive projectile thrown at the enemy by means of a catapult. Therefore, the proposal to make hollow cores with an explosive inside did not take long to come. This is how the high-explosive artillery shell appeared. It caused significant damage to the enemy due to the energy of the explosion and the scattering of fragments. After the advent of armored targets, special armor-piercing, sub-caliber and cumulative ammunition were developed to combat them. Their task was to penetrate the armor and disable the mechanisms and manpower located in the armored space. There are also projectiles special purpose: lighting, incendiary, chemical, propaganda and others. IN lately Guided munitions are gaining popularity, which themselves adjust their flight to more accurately hit targets.

High explosive shells

A landmine is one that causes damage to the enemy through shock wave, high temperature and explosion products (some explosives, for example, produce toxic emissions upon combustion). High explosive projectile in pure form practically not used. The explosive charge is placed in a durable metal casing that can withstand high blood pressure in the bore. Therefore, when detonated, the shell forms large number fragments. This type of ammunition is called a high-explosive fragmentation projectile (HEF). The vast majority of artillery ammunition is OFS.

Shrapnel

Since it is difficult to guarantee uniform dispersion of fragments when detonating a conventional OFS, a high-explosive fragmentation projectile with ready-made submunitions was developed. This type of ammunition was called “shrapnel” (in honor of its inventor, British officer Henry Shrapnel). It is most effective when detonated at a height of several meters from the ground. IN modern ammunition the striking elements are shaped like feathered pyramids, which makes it possible to hit even lightly armored targets.

Land mine against armor

At the end of the 40s of the twentieth century, a high-explosive projectile was developed in Great Britain to destroy enemy armored vehicles. It had a thin-walled body that contained an explosive charge and a detonator with a moderator. Upon contact with the armor, the thin metal shell was destroyed, and the explosive was flattened over the armor, capturing as much as possible large area. After this, the detonator was triggered and the explosive was detonated. As a result, the crew and mechanisms in the armored space were damaged by internal fragments and the top layer of armor was burned. This type received the name armor-piercing high-explosive projectile. However, with the advent of dynamic protection and spaced armor, it was considered ineffective. Currently, such shells are in service only in their homeland - Great Britain.

High explosive fuses

The first fuse for high-explosive fragmentation ammunition was an ordinary fuse, which was ignited when fired from a cannon and initiated the detonation of explosives through certain time. However, after the advent of rifled guns and conical-shaped projectiles, which guaranteed the front of the hull would encounter an obstacle, impact fuses appeared. Their advantage was that the explosive detonation occurred immediately after contact with the obstacle. For destruction, the impact fuses were equipped with a moderator. This allowed the ammunition to first penetrate the obstacle, thereby dramatically increasing its effectiveness. By equipping a landmine with such a fuse with a more massive body with thick walls (which made it possible, due to kinetic energy, to penetrate deep into the walls of long-term firing points), we obtained a concrete-piercing projectile.

By the way, at the initial stage of the Great Patriotic War using 152-mm concrete-piercing shells they successfully fought against German armored vehicles. If hit medium or light german tank the shell, due to its weight, first destroyed the car, tore down the turret, and then exploded. The disadvantage of impact fuses was that when they hit viscous soil (for example, a swamp), they did not work. This problem was eliminated by a remote fuse, which allows the ammunition to be detonated at a certain distance from the muzzle of the gun barrel. Currently, this type of detonator is used in almost all OFS. It allows, for example, firing tank guns at air targets (helicopters).

Combat use of high-explosive shells

High-explosive fragmentation shells are the main type of ammunition used by modern artillery systems. They are used to destroy fortifications, damage and destroy various enemy military equipment, weapons, and manpower. With their help, passages are made in engineering defensive structures. For example, in the final period of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet ISU-152s, using a 152-mm high-explosive fragmentation projectile, successfully destroyed German bunkers, which ensured a breakthrough for the 1st and 2nd Guards tank armies Katukova and Bogdanov northeast of Berlin. Even the most powerful non-nuclear weapons of our time (Smerch RZSO) rely on 9M55F high-explosive fragmentation rockets, which when fired in salvos are equated to weapons of mass destruction.